TLDR Androgen receptors in the mouse brain may explain cognitive and mood changes in prostate cancer treatment.
This study investigated the expression and activity of androgen receptors (AR) in the adult mouse brain to better understand the cognitive side effects of androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) used in prostate cancer treatment. Using ARE-Luc reporter mice and immunohistochemical staining, AR activity was observed in key brain regions such as the thalamus, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, Purkinje cells of the cerebellum, and the hindbrain. The findings suggest that ARs play significant roles in these brain areas, which may help explain the cognitive impairments and mood changes reported in patients undergoing ADT. The study highlights the need to distinguish ADT side effects from other neurological conditions that commonly occur in the same age group.
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